Bummer Morning: Nintendo Power Closing, PopCap And Funcom Layoffs [UPDATED]

Damn, never realized Nintendo Power and I had the same birthday. We're basically twins. I am Nintendo Power.

Put Psygnosis (Studio Liverpool) on the list of this weeks bummers as well :..(

I didn't think Nintendo Power was still going today to be honest.

@FMinus said:

@Shuborno said:

Maybe it's unreasonable of me to think of this as such, but the dots connected in my mind this way:

1. PopCap acquired by EA

2. PopCap lays off a bunch of people a year later

Isn't that what always happens with the big guys (eg. EA, Activision) acquiring the little guys?

It's called restructuring, it's shit, but sometimes it has to be done.

My father owned a car paint shop, and as his business grew, he bough a already established full car shop (metal workers, painters, mechanics, electricians, etc..) but he had to let go most of the painters and metal workers, since he already had his own from his own business - it's super shit, but else he would make no profit and all those guys would have nothing to do but to sit there and turn thumbs. If he had an abundance of money, he could have kept them, but he really needed mechanics and electricians + all the equipment that's why he invested in the purchase.

His shop still runs and makes profit 20 years later and all the old staff that wasn't let go on the merger is still working there, except people who went into pension.

I get it. My father owns a business as well.

I'm guessing that when PopCap was PopCap, the people building the company would feel a sense of responsibility to the people they brought into the fold.

When PopCap becomes EA, regardless of whatever sentiment the leaders of PopCap have, the sense of responsibility is to EA's bottom line, not PopCap's employees. I guess it's just a part of growing a business but it's why people get upset about the idea of a big faceless corporation - it's not about the people, it's not about excitement, and it's not about making great products.

I'm not a fan of these stories. It's happened too much this year alone.

Sony killed off Studio Liverpool today too

And I just bought TSW. Sigh.

Forgive me if I am wrong, but I think some magazines like Nintendo Power needed to go away unless they were willing to adapt. I hear so many people say, "Oh that's a shame, I USED TO subscribe." But that is the point: people stopped subscribing because the magazine stopped being interesting for them. Then again I think Nintendo didn't do the publisher any favors by staying family friendly on all fronts.

@BannerThief said:

What the hell is happening with social games companies?

The Bubble is Bursting

"The greatest Nintendo Power reader letters you will ever see": http://slate.me/R1242W

@Degringolade said:

"The greatest Nintendo Power reader letters you will ever see": http://slate.me/R1242W

I thought this was going to be lame letters, but its actually pretty interesting. Good find.

R.I.P. Nintendo Power :'(

@MonkeyKing1969 said:

Forgive me if I am wrong, but I think some magazines like Nintendo Power needed to go away unless they were willing to adapt. I hear so many people say, "Oh that's a shame, I USED TO subscribe." But that is the point: people stopped subscribing because the magazine stopped being interesting for them. Then again I think Nintendo didn't do the publisher any favors by staying family friendly on all fronts.

I think it's more that, across the board, far fewer people are willing to subscribe to print publications. They get whatever content they want off the internet, and they expect to get it for free. Many people might have subscribed to a magazine/newspaper when hard copy was the only option, but will never pay to read the same content on website. They'll just skim whatever free content is available and complain about the ads.

Shame. I still read gaming mags from time to time. Still a sense of nostalgia for the physical format, especially when it comes to reading.

Worried about those guys at Popcap. I really am looking forward to PvZ 2, and I'm worried that nudging Popcap out of the genre it does best in for other games might seriously hurt them.

make another goddamn Longest Journey game, Funcom!

magazines go out this age & day, no surprise there, EA needing moar $$$ & layoff's folk, no surprise there either. still, what a shame -jc

I remember Nintendo Power from by childhood. Amazing it was still going strong until recently. Rest in peace great magazine.

Sad to see NP going away. :(

They should scan all of the original issues and make them available for purchase on tablets for .99 cents a pop or something. I wouldn't mind flipping through some of those older issues.